Lucy Powell urges Labour not to dismiss upcoming May elections as certain defeats

The party must avoid “write off” the May electoral contests as a likely moment for big losses, instead leveraging the budget to recapture public focus, Lucy Powell has said amid the contest for deputy leadership entered its final period.

With voting among party members under way, Bridget Phillipson, Powell’s rival for the post, asserted upon victory she would set up an official framework to reflect the views of members and unions to the cabinet on a regular basis.

Removed from her cabinet post during the recent ministerial shake-up after the departure of Angela Rayner and has become the favourite to win on an outsider platform, vowing to deliver hard truths to Keir Starmer and his team as needed.

Speaking after a series of events with members, Powell said there was concern regarding potential effects on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments alongside English local councils next May, with Labour predicted to see heavy losses, including losses to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons until the reshuffle, said she was “not prepared to write off this hugely important set of elections” as inevitable midterm pushback, advocating for an ambitious fiscal plan in response.

“It’s not OK if we are losing capable Labour representatives and councils through external factors, due to national-level errors,” she said. “We need to reset the agenda preventing communities from awakening to Reform-controlled councils post-election next May.”

November’s budget should be “an opportunity to mark a break from previous errors, and show the country where our allegiance lies”, Powell said, proposing it removes the two-child limit on benefits ensuring fairer distribution of tax responsibilities.

During a BBC interview, Education Secretary Phillipson, suggested she expects the cap would be lifted.

“I am confident that we as a government will do the right thing by children growing up in poverty across the nation,” she affirmed. “We’ve initiated this effort. There’s more to do. I will ensure its completion.”

Phillipson contended that as a cabinet minister she could guarantee direct representation of member concerns at the top of government. In a subsequent pledge, her campaign stated she would regularly gather input from members and unions every three months to present in this way.

She said: “The Labour party draws its strength from its members. Thus I aim to provide them enhanced influence in governmental policy implementation, with more avenues for our movement to tell us about their priorities.

“Only under my deputy leadership will members have their voices heard distinctly at the cabinet table.”

Online member voting commenced recently continuing through October, results following two days after.